National High Five Day Soundtrack 2k6
While a student at the University of Virginia, I founded a holiday called National High Five Day. National High Five Day falls on this April 20th, when will celebrate the fifth annual NH5D. The significance of it being the 'fifth' National High 'Five' Day has not been lost on us, and we'd really like to do something original, and hopefully spectacular to commemorate it.
And here it is: For the past four years, we've assembled a National High Five Day soundtrack to go along with the holiday. Just by looking at the list, you can get a good idea of what makes a good National High Five Day song: tunes that are joyous, anthemic, and sound really good playing loud while outside giving high fives. Notable past songs include John Lennon's "Instant Karma," Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" and Neutral Milk Hotel's "Ghost." As great as it is to make a killer mix of great songs, this year I would like to switch things up. Instead of rehashing songs that we can all acknowledge are great High Five songs, we would like our fans to create the next generation of high five songs.
That's right. We're going for an original song dominated National High Five Day soundtrack this year. We hope that the month and a half you have leading up to the Third Thursday in April is enough time to properly record your opus. Remember, that the songs aren't necessarily about High Fives. If they are, that's great. But what is really more important is that your song's tone captures the spirit of the day. It's a pretty loose guideline, but if you look at the past mixes, they are reasonably eclectic, and the only real common denominator I can find is that joyous undertone that fits so well as a soundtrack to giving and receiving High Fives.
So get cracking! Forward this link to anyone you know who is a musician, or a fan of high fives, or hopefully both. Have them record an MP3 and email it to us or let us know about it. Got a long lost brother who happens to be Jeff Mangum? Hit him up for a favor! Those guys in My Morning Jacket used to live next door to you? Remind them who fed their cats while they were on the road! You happen to be Conor Oberst, Bruce Springsteen or John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats? Record a song for our holiday! This plea of course also applies to anyone who may be unknown, or looking for their big break. There's a ton of people out there who listen to our anual NH5D mixes. In fact, someone emailed me last week asking when the new one would be up, so he could start listening to psyche himself up for the holiday like he does with Christmas Carols. Your hit appearing on this years soundtrack could be the greatest thing you've ever done in your life!
I'll conclude by issuing this plea: think of the High Fives that are going unexchanged at this very moment. And then think of whether or not you have a song inside you that could inspire just one high five to be exchanged. Isn't it worth recording that song to make sure that that High Five isn't lost to the ages?
National High Five Day Homepage: www.nationalhighfiveday.com
While you're there, check out our recent report on the True Origin of the High Five
